March 13, 2006

Today we started our unit on ratios, percents and decimals. We will be incorporating what we have learned from Ch. 3 - 7 into this unit. We will start each class reviewing the necessary parts of past lessons and discussing how it is related to what we are beginning.

Students will need to spend some time memorizing new vocabulary as it is taught and reviewing their classroom notes. After any math lesson a great way for the parents to become involved is to have your child "teach" you what he/she learned that day. It is a great way to re-inforce their learning. Maybe you have completed a project or use this skill in your daily job and you could share that "real world" application with them. Every little bit helps.

MATH MID-TERMS WENT HOME TODAY! THEY MUST BE SIGNED AND RETURNED BY MARCH 15TH.

Basic Equations

I must say that I thought today would be more difficult than it was. I was impressed. We have spent weeks working on integers and then basic one-step equations. Today we practiced two-step equations and the students did a fantastic job.

A few wanted to know why they had to learn the steps, "when I can see that x is going to equal one." I whipped out a copy of the Algebra I book I borrowed for just such an occasion. We passed it around and talked about how some of them would be doing those problems in as little time as a year and a half and the rest within two and a half years.

I thinked they were shocked when they saw what math will be for them soon. I'm not sure they were scared, but they were much more receptive to "working out the steps." We have our basic equations test coming up on the 7th. We have a half day on the 8th, which we will use to do test corrections. The 9th and 10th will be reserved for our third benchmark test.

Valentine's Day and Math Class

Today is Valentine's Day and I'm giving an Integer Test. Trust me, I have taken no small amount of flack for this from my classes. They have not yet realized that my gift to them is not having homework today and not having to study for a test tonight.

My gift to myself, was not having to teach a new lesson on what is a highly charged atmoshpere here at the junior high. I have learned this lesson long ago. I no longer make those rookie mistakes. Valentine's Day is an emotional day for some of my kids. They will behave and do what is expected, but today, their thoughts are elsewhere. If I give them time to choose between their thoughts and listening to me, well, I would lose.

Happy Valentine's Day Everyone!

Fraction Food Lab - Student Sound Bites

Hunter S: I had fun during the food lab, we did have a few mistakes! There was too much milk in them. That made them gooey. They were a little chocolatey. Otherwise, they were pretty good!

Grace M: Our group had a lot of fun during the food lab! We might have put a little too much chocolate in them but who cares!? They're still REALLY good! :-)

Olivia H: Our cookies turned out great and there's never too much chocolate in a cookie!!!!

Danielle B: Making cookies was great! I hope we make cookies again sometime. I will definetly make more cookies at home. My group and I made a few mistakes, but it was still fun to be in the kitchen and use the stove. Our cookies turned out great!

Greg R: Doing this lab made me reallize I need to think of a new career!

Macen P. : I luv cookies.

Lindsey D: It was a lot of fun!

Stephanie R: Making cookies was really fun! I hope we do it again.

John R: I hope we do it AGAIN AND Mrs. Sharp tells the 7th grade to do it. From JRJ

Kalem: Cookies are better than a popsicle on a hot, humid day.

Michael Y: I like to make cookies!

Maggie M: Making cooies is a really fun way to learn!

Maynor G: I thing that doing cookies is very fun.

John G: I love to cook its fun!

Math News

We have just finished multiplying and dividing fractions. We will take our test on Thursday. Test corrections will need to be completed and signed over the weekend. I will e-mail progress reports and send home paper copies on Friday. They will need to be signed and returned along with their test corrections.

To end our three months of fraction work we will complete a fraction cooking lab in the FACS kitchen, at Lincoln, on January 30th. Students will use their fraction skills to reduce a recipe and, in small groups, cook up the concoction. It really is quite fun to watch. Some of your children have not been observing you in the kitchen. I have seen groups try to use a metal bowl, over flame, to make their cookies.

My role is to be a facilitator AND OF COURSE to keep them from setting the kitchen on fire. I don't help with directions, they must read it from the sheet. This will be a fun, learning experience! You really have to see them in action to believe it!! Have your student save his/her recipe and try it out on YOU at home!! After the lab, I will let some of the kids blog their thoughts on this page!! Check back on Feb. 2nd to see what they had to say!!!

More Fractions

Today we started multiplying and estimating fractions. Students are to work on chapter vocabulary and begin memorizing the three estimation rules we wrote on 3x5 cards. Forty students qualified for enrichment in this unit by showcasing that they have exceptional fraction ability. They will have four opportunities to work in small groups solving more challenging problems!! A list of qualifying students have been posted in my room!

Top Ten in Math (on the Explorer Team) for the Third Six Weeks are:

1. Brandon Baird
2. Ryan McNeil
3. Clayton Maddox
4. Danielle Becktel
5. Lane Singleton
6. Lindsey Downs
7. Anna Dunn
Micah Harner (tied)
8. Jessica Siegel
Cameron Hedington (tied)
9. Tonya Roeder
10. Hunter Sharp

Congratulations on your academic achievements!!

It's Vacation Time!

Every child in class has been told what his/her final grade for the third six weeks will be. No surprises! It is also posted in my room and current progress reports have been emailed! I feel like I can relax. I even have semester grades calculated. Life is good.

I hope everyone has an enjoyable vacation and that you get to have some great quality time with the family! Once we return we will get right back to work. We will spend some time correcting mistakes on the quarterly benchmarks from the first semester and completing a group problem solving activity. After that we will begin multiplying and dividing fractions!

Happy Holidays!

Mrs. S